Summary: The purpose of this sermon is to motivate believers with Spiritual Questions to TRUST GOD in TOUGH TIMES.

BIG IDEA: Sometimes believers question God, because they find it difficult to TRUST Him in the midst of TOUGH times.

REFERENCES: John 7:37-38 (NIV) On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as[c] the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.; Nehemiah 8:1-10 (NIV) Note: Because it was the first day of a new year - Rosh ha Shanah – the priest blew the ram’s horn called shophar to celebrate; Deut. 6:16 (NIV) Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah; Psalm 81:7 (NIV) In your distress you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah; Exodus 16 (NIV); Exodus 17:1-7: Luke 4:12 NIV (The devil urges Jesus to test His messiahship by casting himself, but Jesus replies) "It says: ’Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”;

We are living in Tough Times! Many Americans are no longer able to afford their homes. In fact, many have already loss their homes. Gas prices are high! Food cost is up! American military is currently engaged in two wars simultaneously; and many of us in attendance today will leave our families and friends and deploy to Iraq soon. And, oh yes, “our nation is currently facing arguably the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.”

******* Take 5 Beats ******

MOVE 1: So, have you ever interrogated God?

a. Have you ever been in the midst of a TOUGH SITUATION where you felt like God wasn’t hearing you?

b. Have your trials and challenges ever been so great that you couldn’t even feel the familiar presences of God?

c. Have you ever felt like you had exhausted all of your spiritual resources?